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T O P I C R E V I E W

NAAmodel#240

After the fire in January 1967 NASA redoubled efforts to eliminate items that would support combustion in the spacecraft. Since there were lots of checklists, maps, and reference materials made of paper did the space agency ever switch to flame retardant paper?

davidcwagner

Excellent question.

I have several flown checklist pages and maps. The maps appear to be plastic (Teflon?). The checklist pages feel like thin paper. Have not tested any with a match yet.

MadSci

I seem to recall that the paper was treated to make it fire resistant. Can't recall the reference right now, but I believe that was the case.

Obviousman

It's probably Tyvek. We still use it for flight reference cards today.

cosmos-walter

Matthew I. Radnofsky from NASA Manned Spacecraft Center wrote an article (PDF) in Aviation Bulletin No. 388 in August 1971:

NONFLAMMABLE PAPER

A cellulosic material, developed by the Scheufelen Paper Company of Germany and processed primarily as a paper, carbonizes in the presence of a flame but does not propagate the flame. This nonflammable characteristic is evident in both air and oxygen-enriched atmospheres. This paper lends

itself well to printing and, with some minor exceptions, has physical properties that are comparable to conventional paper.

This paper can be processed into a continuous roll of 0.5—inch—thick foam, similar to papier—mache. When placed on a ceiling, for example, the foam has both the appearance and function of conventional acoustic tile and offers the additional advantage of nonflammability.

In addition to the paper, a process called Laminite which treats -cellulose-base fiberboard with ammonium aluminum sulfate has been evolved.

The resultant material is minimally flammable in oxygen and nonflammable in air. It can be formed wet, coated, cemented, and Joined like a composite; yet it is lightweight and inexpensive.

This nonflammable paper from Scheufelen paper company was used during Apollo flights. For Space Shuttle and ISS there was no need for a nonflammable paper, since they did not use pure oxygen atmosphere any more.

idrvball

Here are some items I have found in my files relating to the Apollo Flame Resistant Paper.

The first photos is a letter written in 1971 from Papierfabrik Scheufelen to Hans Mueller mentioning the flame resistant paper they developed.

There is also a small booklet published by Papierfabrik Scheufelen in I believe 1970. The second photo shows the cover the next photo shows the inside with the fabrics, and the last photo shows the back cover.

Also, this was one of my eBay auctions from earlier this month showing an example of the flame resistant paper.